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'I Love Lucy' Actress Shirley Mitchell Dies at 94
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Scott Brady
Nov 13, 2013, 5:58:50 PM11/13/13
to
2:25 PM PST 11/13/2013 by Mike Barnes
The Hollywood Reporter
She played Lucille Ball’s cackling pal Marion Strong and is believed to be last surviving adult castmember from the classic CBS sitcom.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/i-love-lucy-actress-shirley-mitchell-dies-655779
Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's friend with the cackling laugh, on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She was 94.
Mitchell, who is believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who collaborated with Ray Evans on the Academy Award-winning songs “Mona Lisa” (performed by Nat King Cole), “Que Sera, Sera” (Doris Day) and “Buttons and Bows” (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001.
Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54 season and appeared in three episodes. In one, “Lucy Tells the Truth,” Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls’ weekly bridge game. (Lucy has bet Fred and Ethel Mertz $100 that she can go 24 hours without telling a lie.)
“Marion, stop cackling. I’ve been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg!” Lucy says.
The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on their first date.
Mitchell was very much an in-demand TV actress in the 1950s and ’60s. She played John Forsythe’s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don’t Eat the Daisies; Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley’s (Bea Benaderet’s) cousin, on Petticoat Junction; and Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.
On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches.
Her TV résumé also includes Pete and Gladys, The Jack Benny Program, Make Room for Daddy, Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Mothers-in-Law, The Doris Day Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, Chico & the Man, Three’s Company, Trapper John, M.D., Dallas and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Roman Holidays.
Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good friends with Ball during the redhead’s radio days on My Favorite Husband. She came to Los Angeles in the 1940s and transitioned to television on such shows as I Married Joan.
Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944), Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).
In addition to Olson – the widow of late Capitol Records president Alan Livingston -- survivors include her children Scott and Brooke.
The Hollywood Reporter
She played Lucille Ball’s cackling pal Marion Strong and is believed to be last surviving adult castmember from the classic CBS sitcom.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/i-love-lucy-actress-shirley-mitchell-dies-655779
Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's friend with the cackling laugh, on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She was 94.
Mitchell, who is believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who collaborated with Ray Evans on the Academy Award-winning songs “Mona Lisa” (performed by Nat King Cole), “Que Sera, Sera” (Doris Day) and “Buttons and Bows” (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001.
Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54 season and appeared in three episodes. In one, “Lucy Tells the Truth,” Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls’ weekly bridge game. (Lucy has bet Fred and Ethel Mertz $100 that she can go 24 hours without telling a lie.)
“Marion, stop cackling. I’ve been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg!” Lucy says.
The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on their first date.
Mitchell was very much an in-demand TV actress in the 1950s and ’60s. She played John Forsythe’s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don’t Eat the Daisies; Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley’s (Bea Benaderet’s) cousin, on Petticoat Junction; and Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.
On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches.
Her TV résumé also includes Pete and Gladys, The Jack Benny Program, Make Room for Daddy, Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Mothers-in-Law, The Doris Day Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, Chico & the Man, Three’s Company, Trapper John, M.D., Dallas and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Roman Holidays.
Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good friends with Ball during the redhead’s radio days on My Favorite Husband. She came to Los Angeles in the 1940s and transitioned to television on such shows as I Married Joan.
Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944), Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).
In addition to Olson – the widow of late Capitol Records president Alan Livingston -- survivors include her children Scott and Brooke.
That Derek
Nov 13, 2013, 10:10:04 PM11/13/13
to
Wow! That was quite a comprehensive write-up about Shirley Mitchell! However, her radio credits were conspicuously absent particularly regular roles on "Fibber McGee and Molly" and its spin-off "The Great Gildersleeve."
According to Jack Benny historian Laura Leff, Ms. Mitchell was also featured in the last original radio episode of "The Jack Benny Program," which aired on May 22nd, 1955, She played telephone operator Mabel. Benny often encountered gossipy telephone operators Gertrude Gearshift and Mabel Flapsaddle while placing telephone calls. Gertrude and Mabel were alternately played by a bevy of character actresses including Bea Benadaret, Sara Berner, Sandra Gould, and Ms. Mitchell.
Not only was Shirley Mitchell, as the primary obit mentioned, arguably the last ADULT cast member of TV's "I Love Lucy," but she more than likely was the last surviving ADULT cast member of the Jack Benny radio show. Young performers on Benny's radio program still with us include Beverly Washburn, Stuffy Singer, and Harry Shearer.
As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the twins who played infant Little Ricky.
According to Jack Benny historian Laura Leff, Ms. Mitchell was also featured in the last original radio episode of "The Jack Benny Program," which aired on May 22nd, 1955, She played telephone operator Mabel. Benny often encountered gossipy telephone operators Gertrude Gearshift and Mabel Flapsaddle while placing telephone calls. Gertrude and Mabel were alternately played by a bevy of character actresses including Bea Benadaret, Sara Berner, Sandra Gould, and Ms. Mitchell.
Not only was Shirley Mitchell, as the primary obit mentioned, arguably the last ADULT cast member of TV's "I Love Lucy," but she more than likely was the last surviving ADULT cast member of the Jack Benny radio show. Young performers on Benny's radio program still with us include Beverly Washburn, Stuffy Singer, and Harry Shearer.
As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the twins who played infant Little Ricky.
Scott Brady
Nov 13, 2013, 10:37:29 PM11/13/13
to
On Wednesday, November 13, 2013 9:10:04 PM UTC-6, That Derek wrote:
> As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the twins who played infant Little Ricky.
Among non-recurrent performers, Janet Waldo, who, although playing a teenager, was actually in her late 20s (and pregnant) when she filmed her episode, is still alive.
> As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the twins who played infant Little Ricky.
Brad Ferguson
Nov 13, 2013, 10:40:54 PM11/13/13
to
In article <19313886-97ec-4eb6...@googlegroups.com>,
teenaged fanboy Richard Crenna in the episode "The Young Fans," is
still off-topic. She was 28 at the time and will turn 90 in February.
Janet did only that one episode, so I don't think she'd be considered a
"cast member."
BTW Janet was also the voice of Judy Jetson.
That Derek <that...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent
> include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who
> grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the
> twins who played infant Little Ricky.
Janet Waldo, who played Ricky's teenaged fangirl opposite Lucy's
> As mentioned on this forum previously, "I Love Lucy" performers still extent
> include Keith "Little Ricky" Thibodeaux, the kid in the Italy episode who
> grew up to be Bart Braverman ("Itsa her birt'day, too!"), and probably the
> twins who played infant Little Ricky.
teenaged fanboy Richard Crenna in the episode "The Young Fans," is
still off-topic. She was 28 at the time and will turn 90 in February.
Janet did only that one episode, so I don't think she'd be considered a
"cast member."
BTW Janet was also the voice of Judy Jetson.
That Derek
Nov 14, 2013, 12:13:20 AM11/14/13
to
More still extant "I Love Lucy" GUEST non-regular players (including the spinoff/off-shoot "Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour").
Barbara Eden played a femme fatale in a later Connecticut episode0.
Marjorie Lord and Angela Cartwright appeared in the Lucy/Desi "Make Room for Daddy" cross-over episode.
"Mickey Mouse Club" serial players David Stollery and Sammy Ogg played the trouble-making twins who performed "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" with Lucy.
One-time "Alice Kramden" Sheila MacRae was in the William Holden Hollywood episode.
According to Lucy-ographer the late Bart Andrews' "The 'I Love Lucy' Book" (originally titled as the topically humourous "Lucy & Ricky & Fred & Ethel"), Desi Arnaz Junior and Lucie Arnaz appear in a crowd scene in the last regular episode "The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue." Andrews maintained that young Lucie is the little girl whom Ethel asks "Are you having a good time, honey?" However, I believe whether Lucie Arnaz was that little girl has since come into dispute. IMDB doesn't list Lucie in this episode but does list Desi Jr. as a crowd scene extra.
I really don't feel like trolling through the entire Andrews book & "IMDB-ing" all the actors.
Barbara Eden played a femme fatale in a later Connecticut episode0.
Marjorie Lord and Angela Cartwright appeared in the Lucy/Desi "Make Room for Daddy" cross-over episode.
"Mickey Mouse Club" serial players David Stollery and Sammy Ogg played the trouble-making twins who performed "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" with Lucy.
One-time "Alice Kramden" Sheila MacRae was in the William Holden Hollywood episode.
According to Lucy-ographer the late Bart Andrews' "The 'I Love Lucy' Book" (originally titled as the topically humourous "Lucy & Ricky & Fred & Ethel"), Desi Arnaz Junior and Lucie Arnaz appear in a crowd scene in the last regular episode "The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue." Andrews maintained that young Lucie is the little girl whom Ethel asks "Are you having a good time, honey?" However, I believe whether Lucie Arnaz was that little girl has since come into dispute. IMDB doesn't list Lucie in this episode but does list Desi Jr. as a crowd scene extra.
I really don't feel like trolling through the entire Andrews book & "IMDB-ing" all the actors.
News
Nov 14, 2013, 12:19:19 AM11/14/13
to
"Scott Brady" <sbra...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fe809313-2ddd-4bd3...@googlegroups.com...
2:25 PM PST 11/13/2013 by Mike Barnes
The Hollywood Reporter
She played Lucille Ball�s cackling pal Marion Strong and is believed to be
Nov. 13, 2013 2:25pm PST by Mike Barnes
Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's
friend with the cackling laugh, on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She
was 94.
Mitchell, who is believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the
legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in
Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy
Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who
collaborated with Ray Evans on the Academy Award-winning songs �Mona Lisa�
(performed by Nat King Cole), �Que Sera, Sera� (Doris Day) and �Buttons and
Bows� (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001.
Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball�s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54
season and appeared in three episodes. In one, �Lucy Tells the Truth,�
Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls�
played John Forsythe�s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of
Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don�t Eat the Daisies;
Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley�s (Bea Benaderet�s) cousin, on Petticoat
So sorry to hear of Shirley Mitchell's passing, after just enjoying her 94th
on Nov. 4.
The obit's resume of her left out "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as 'Beth Gregory'
(Lou's wife, Lou is a former DA) who was embarrassed that he didn't catch
'Rob' unconsciously using a marked deck of cards in poker playing, winning a
large amount of money from Lou.
Lou was played the late Ed Platt, 'The Chief' on "Get Smart." ["A Nice,
Friendly Game of Cards"; Jan. 29, 1964]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559731
"Look, Richie, when you cheat to win, that's naughty, but when you cheat to
lose, that's... ridiculous."
--'Rob Petrie'
She also appeared as 'Shirley Rogers' in another DVD Show episode, "Somebody
Has to Play Cleopatra."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559804 ["Somebody Has to Play Cleopatra", Dec.
26, 1962]
Her [jealous] character had to scream [*] at the top of her lungs at her
on-screen husband (Bob Crane), to stop playing his role as 'Mark Antony'
because his 'Mark Antony' was loving-it-up too much with a very attractive
'Cleopatra'!
[*] in a very funny line, doing it off-scream outside the front door,
"Harry, get out here this minute...!" [paraphrasing]
Her sister-in-law is the actress Nancy Olson (Fred MacMurray's wife in
1963's, "Son of Flubber").
She'll always be remembered for her hilarious laugh-fest on "Lucy Tells the
Truth" episode.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/doris-singleton-i-love-lucy-neighbor-342702
"Doris Singleton, Neighbor of Lucy and Ricky on 'I Love Lucy', dies at 92
June 27, 2012
news:fe809313-2ddd-4bd3...@googlegroups.com...
2:25 PM PST 11/13/2013 by Mike Barnes
The Hollywood Reporter
last surviving adult castmember from the classic CBS sitcom.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/i-love-lucy-actress-shirley-mitchell-dies-655779
" 'I Love Lucy' Actress Shirley Mitchell Dies at 94"
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/i-love-lucy-actress-shirley-mitchell-dies-655779
Nov. 13, 2013 2:25pm PST by Mike Barnes
Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's
friend with the cackling laugh, on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She
was 94.
Mitchell, who is believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the
legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in
Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy
Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who
(performed by Nat King Cole), �Que Sera, Sera� (Doris Day) and �Buttons and
Bows� (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001.
Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball�s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54
season and appeared in three episodes. In one, �Lucy Tells the Truth,�
Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls�
weekly bridge game. (Lucy has bet Fred and Ethel Mertz $100 that she can go
24 hours without telling a lie.)
�Marion, stop cackling. I�ve been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg!�
24 hours without telling a lie.)
Lucy says.
The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second
season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on
their first date.
Mitchell was very much an in-demand TV actress in the 1950s and �60s. She
The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second
season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on
their first date.
played John Forsythe�s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of
Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don�t Eat the Daisies;
Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley�s (Bea Benaderet�s) cousin, on Petticoat
Junction; and Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.
On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife
of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches.
Her TV r�sum� also includes Pete and Gladys, The Jack Benny Program, Make
On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife
of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches.
Room for Daddy, Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Mothers-in-Law, The
Doris Day Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, Chico & the Man, Three�s
Company, Trapper John, M.D., Dallas and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera
cartoon series The Roman Holidays.
Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows
as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good
friends with Ball during the redhead�s radio days on My Favorite Husband.
In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera
cartoon series The Roman Holidays.
Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows
as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good
She came to Los Angeles in the 1940s and transitioned to television on such
shows as I Married Joan.
Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944),
Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).
In addition to Olson � the widow of late Capitol Records president Alan
shows as I Married Joan.
Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944),
Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).
Livingston -- survivors include her children Scott and Brooke.
---
So sorry to hear of Shirley Mitchell's passing, after just enjoying her 94th
on Nov. 4.
The obit's resume of her left out "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as 'Beth Gregory'
(Lou's wife, Lou is a former DA) who was embarrassed that he didn't catch
'Rob' unconsciously using a marked deck of cards in poker playing, winning a
large amount of money from Lou.
Lou was played the late Ed Platt, 'The Chief' on "Get Smart." ["A Nice,
Friendly Game of Cards"; Jan. 29, 1964]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559731
"Look, Richie, when you cheat to win, that's naughty, but when you cheat to
lose, that's... ridiculous."
--'Rob Petrie'
She also appeared as 'Shirley Rogers' in another DVD Show episode, "Somebody
Has to Play Cleopatra."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559804 ["Somebody Has to Play Cleopatra", Dec.
26, 1962]
Her [jealous] character had to scream [*] at the top of her lungs at her
on-screen husband (Bob Crane), to stop playing his role as 'Mark Antony'
because his 'Mark Antony' was loving-it-up too much with a very attractive
'Cleopatra'!
[*] in a very funny line, doing it off-scream outside the front door,
"Harry, get out here this minute...!" [paraphrasing]
Her sister-in-law is the actress Nancy Olson (Fred MacMurray's wife in
1963's, "Son of Flubber").
She'll always be remembered for her hilarious laugh-fest on "Lucy Tells the
Truth" episode.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/doris-singleton-i-love-lucy-neighbor-342702
"Doris Singleton, Neighbor of Lucy and Ricky on 'I Love Lucy', dies at 92
June 27, 2012
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